Ames closing 47 stores

Rocky Hill, Conn. – Locally based Ames Department Stores Inc. plans to shutter 47 stores in 10 states in an effort to return to profitability. The stores are expected to close by the end of October.

Ames is closing stores in Ohio (15), Pennsylvania (12), Indiana (6), Virginia (4), Illinois (3), New York (3), North Carolina, Maine, Maryland and West Virginia. The company says it will focus its efforts on its core store base, which is comprised of roughly 400 shops.